Why It's Called Pickleball (History of the Name)
Also known as: why is it called pickleball, where does the name pickleball come from, pickleball name origin, who invented pickleball, history of pickleball, when was pickleball invented, pickle boat
The name is usually credited to Joan Pritchard, wife of co-inventor Joel Pritchard. She said the game reminded her of the "pickle boat" in rowing, a crew thrown together from leftover rowers. A popular story says it was named after the family dog, Pickles, but the dog arrived after the game had its name.
Pickleball began in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Joel Pritchard and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum made it up at Pritchard's summer cabin. They had no badminton gear, so they used ping-pong paddles, a net and a plastic wiffle ball.
Joan Pritchard is generally credited with the name. A pickle boat is a rowing crew made up of leftover rowers from other boats. The new game mixed parts of badminton, table tennis and tennis, so the name fit.
The dog story is well known but backwards. According to Merriam-Webster, the Pritchards got their dog, Pickles, in 1968, after the game was named. In 2022, Washington made pickleball its official state sport.
Tips by skill level
Remember the pickle boat: a crew of leftovers, like a game made from leftover parts of other sports.
The game's mix of badminton, table tennis and tennis still shows. The low net and kitchen came from making a backyard game fair for everyone.
Example
A new player asks why the sport has such an odd name. Her partner explains the pickle boat story, and adds that the dog Pickles came later.
Why it matters
The name is the first thing new players ask about. Knowing the real story is a fun way to share the sport's roots.
Common mistakes
- Saying the game was named after the dog Pickles
- Thinking pickleball is a recent invention
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called pickleball?
Joan Pritchard said the game reminded her of the pickle boat in rowing, a crew made of leftover rowers. The game mixed parts of other sports, so the name stuck.
Was pickleball named after a dog?
No. According to Merriam-Webster, the Pritchards got their dog, Pickles, in 1968, after the game was already named.
Who invented pickleball?
Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum, in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington. They used ping-pong paddles, a net and a plastic wiffle ball.
Sources
- Merriam-Webster — Why Is the Sport Called 'Pickleball'? (Joan Pritchard and the pickle boat; the dog Pickles arrived in 1968)
- Dictionary.com — What Is Pickleball? All About the Kitchen and Other Pickleball Terms (Apr 3, 2024: name origin)
- Washington State Legislature — Senate Bill 5615, Sec. 1 (created in 1965 on Bainbridge Island by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum)
- Washington State Legislature — SB 5615, Chapter 188, Laws of 2022 (state sport; approved March 28, 2022)
- USA Pickleball 2026 Official Rulebook (copy published by Pickleball Canada) — Section 1, The Game (combines elements of badminton, table tennis and tennis)
Related terms
- Pickleball Rules for BeginnersServe underhand and diagonally into the opposite service court, past the kitchen. The serve and the return must each bounce, and nobody may volley while touching the kitchen. In standard scoring only the serving side scores, and games usually go to 11, win by 2.
- Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)The kitchen is the 7-foot non-volley zone on each side of the net. You may not hit a volley (a ball out of the air) while standing in it or touching its line. You must let the ball bounce first.
- Pickleball Court Dimensions and Net HeightA pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, the same for singles and doubles. The non-volley zone, or kitchen, extends 7 feet from the net on each side. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center.
- Switching from Tennis to PickleballTennis players pick up pickleball fast, but a few habits need to change. Serve underhand, let the serve and the return bounce, and get to the kitchen line. Shorten your swing and win points with patience and placement rather than pace.
Related guides & benchmarks
Put this into practice
Ask SwingVantage a follow-up question about this, or keep reading the related terms above.